For Your Amusement: "Jumping the Broom" Movie Review

I'm one of those people who can watch a movie or TV show and then give you a quick "yay" or "nay" on whether or not I liked what I saw. I'm very opinionated. It's why I blog.

Question: Do you like that new show The Voice?

Me: Yes. Love the star power on that show and the concept is so cool!

Question: What did you think of Catwoman?

Me: Can you say, "Worst movie EVER?"

So, given my nature to quickly decide on things I love or hate (or at least find somewhere in the middle) it struck me as odd when I couldn't give a friend a solid answer when she asked, "Did you like it?" after seeing Jumping the Broom. My response was, "I'm not sure."

Since then, I've had time to mentally pick apart the film, from the storyline to the performances. I wondered if I was afraid to admit to liking a film with such stereotypical portrayals of African Americans. Sure, there were some surprises, but did I truly enjoy that film that made me cry a little at the end? After a lot of thought I've finally decided and my answer is...

Yes. I liked Jumping the Broom.

The movie follows an African-American couple that have each had their prayers answered by finding the other and falling in love. After a brief courtship, the two become engaged and quickly plan their wedding so they can start their new life overseas as husband and wife.

Paula Patton is the film's leading lady, Sabrina Watson. Her fiance is Jason Taylor, played by Laz Alonso. Sabrina comes from an upper-class family and Jason's family is working class. (In Ebonics, bougie meets ghetto.)

The pre-wedding rituals, like a family dinner, rehearsal dinner and Watson men's football game are settings for the tension-filled moments that take place as the couple's families meet and mingle for the first time. Throw a few friends, a sexy chef and a wedding planner (the latter which is clearly unpolished in race-related etiquette) into the mix and there are moments that will make you giggle, perhaps even chuckle a little.

The previews for the film did not hint to the film's surprise—in my opinion, its saving grace. One member of the beautiful duo about to be married has a family secret that is being kept from them. It was this secret, as well as the stand-out performances by Valarie Pettiford, as Sabrina's over-the-top Aunt Geneva and DeRay Davis as Jason's cousin Malcolm that really swayed my final decision as to whether I liked this film.

As Sabrina (Patton) dealt with her overprotective and shortsighted soon-to-be mother-in-law (played by the delightful Loretta Devine) I wasn't wowed by Patton's performance. I thought Patton would be better suited for modeling rather than acting. I was never caught up in her character.

I found myself thinking, "Oh, she's married to that singer Robin Thicke. I think she was in that movie Precious. Hmm ... why does it seem like her facial expressions are so extreme? I wonder if I should cook dinner tonight or order out" whenever she was spotlighted in the movie. As for her co-star, Laz Alonso as Jason, overall I liked his acting and his character, but he didn't seem to have any real chemistry with Patton.

Despite my disdain for Patton and lack of sizzle with Alonso, the story and sub-stories in Jumping the Broom truly make this a film worth watching.

How can a film with two seemingly unimpressive leads be worth seeing? Well, the supporting cast is awesome! Sabrina's mother is played by Angela Bassett and she was a true ice-queen, playing her part flawlessly. Then there were the two standouts I mentioned earlier—Valerie Pettiford and DeRay Davis. And how could I forget Shonda, Jason's mother's BFF, played by Tasha Smith? She was comic relief and stunning.

Oh and since we're talking eye candy, Megan Good is in this film (Sabrina's BFF), as well as Gary Dourdan (chef), Pooch Hall (Jason's BFF), a very grown-up Romeo (Sabrina's cousin) and funny-man Mike Epps as Willie Earl (Jason's uncle). Just thinking of the supporting cast makes me smile!

So, go see Jumping the Broom and, despite a few bumps in the road, don't be afraid to admit to liking it.